title: Lipopolysaccharide-induced immune responses in relation to the TLR4(Asp299Gly) gene polymorphism.
abstract: Altered microbial exposure is a possible explanation for the increase of allergies in the Western world. However, genetic factors influence microbially induced immune responses. We have investigated the TLR4(Asp299Gly) gene polymorphism and its possible association with receptor expression of circulating peripheral blood monocytes and the in vitro cytokine responses and phosphorylation of intracellular signaling proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. We studied 34 of the predominant haplotype TLR4 Asp299 (AA) and 8 heterozygote Asp299Gly (AG) individuals. TLR4 expression levels were similar in the two genotype groups. Serovar Typhimurium LPS induced interleukin-12p70 from PBMC, and the degree of phosphorylation of the intracellular signaling protein IkappaBalpha in PBMC was lower in the AG than the AA group (P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively). These results were not seen, however, when PMBC were stimulated with E. coli-derived LPS. Based on these results, we propose that TLR4(Asp299Gly) gene polymorphism and the bacterial origin of LPS should be considered when environmental LPS exposure is evaluated in disease risk or protection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden. anna.lundberg@liu.se
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Lars Andersson
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wikberg
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilonen
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vaarala
authors.forename: Malin Fagerås
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Böttcher
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000276:immunology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D018664:Interleukin-12; D011494:Protein Kinases